Monti warning on professional practice

MARIO Monti, the competition commissioner, has issued cosseted professional bodies, from lawyers and notaries to customs agents and architects, a wake-up call to end anti-competitive practices such as restrictions on fees and advertisements.

European Voice

10/29/03, 5:00 PM CET

Updated 4/12/14, 9:21 AM CET

The Italian said his department will consider “appropriate further steps to take in this area” once officials have finished an investigation into the issue.

“The purpose is to see whether any rules or regulations in the liberal professions produce more costs than benefits to society and to what extent such costs are necessary for the proper practice of the profession.”

Monti said officials were poring over the results of an independent study into the professions and recent rulings of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

The Commission won a case against Italy for undermining the EU’s competition rules by requiring Italian customs agents to set compulsory tariffs for their members.

In September, the Court also ruled on Italian legislation that “facilitated a system of production quotas” set by national match manufacturers.

The ECJ said competition watchdogs would be duty-bound to outlaw the quota system, even if national legislation supported it.